However, former Liverpool winger John Barnes believes the Reds cannot afford to delay and should offload the 26-year-old now.

"We've seen in the past when transfers go down to the last minute that it doesn't help anybody, especially for a club like Liverpool who, if they lose Suarez, would have to find a big-name replacement," he told talkSPORT.

"I'd like it to be done sooner rather than later because if it goes down to the last day, and you then have to go and get somebody, it's not ideal.

"As far as Suarez is concerned, if he's not going to be happy, then he has to go.

"We can all say, 'Yes, we think Suarez is going to be a player like Carlos Tevez, who gives 100 per cent no matter what' but we don't know what his mental state is going to be if he doesn't get his wish (to leave Liverpool)."

Central defence is an area Rodgers has been looking to strengthen ever since he became aware Jamie Carragher was to retire at the end of last season.

Skrtel had already lost his place by then and although Rodgers has brought in Kolo Toure on a free transfer this summer, he has been heavily linked with both Schalke's Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Toby Alderweireld of Ajax.

While it appeared he had walked away from a deal for Papadopoulos after being quoted a fee of £19m for the 21-year-old, it appears a move could be resurrected.

The club are also interested in a move, initially a loan, for Benfica's Lorenzo Melgarejo, who can operate on the left side of both defence and midfield.